2003

2003 / 3 stars / reviews / yellowcard — No Comments
30
Jan 09

Ocean Avenue (2003) by Yellowcard

Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard

Yellowcard
Ocean Avenue
2003, Capitol
pop punk, alternative
3½

In interviews, lead singer Ryan Key of Yellowcard has often disputed the idea that the band is ‘pop punk’ and claims they are ‘pop rock.’ In my opinion, their debut Ocean Avenue shows Yellowcard is infinitely more ‘pop’ than they are ‘pop punk,’ but that’s beside the point.

As a debut, Ocean Avenue still stands as a testament to the various strengths and weaknesses of this band. Yellowcard would incorporate Sean Mackin’s violin more in Lights and Sounds and would later revert to a darker punk sound in Paper Walls, but their debut still hold a good mix of pop punk – one that might take itself too seriously at times but still catchy enough to listen to. As for lyrics, look to Lights and Sounds for something that isn’t boring.

“Breathing,” “Empty Apartment,” “One Year, Six Months.”
myspace, last.fm
Yellowcard’s Lights and Sounds, The Starting Line’s Based on a True Story

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2003 / 5 stars / explosions in the sky / reviews — No Comments
26
Jan 09

The Earth Is Not… (2003) by Explosions in the Sky

The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place by Explosions in the Sky

Explosions in the Sky
The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
2003, Temporary Residence Limited
post-rock, experimental
5

It’s amazing that this is my first review for Explosions in the Sky, considering how obsessed I’ve been with this band of late. I’ve chosen their third album as the first I reviewed because it is the only one, in my opinion, that is actually cohesive enough to be called an ‘album.’ It’s amazing how many chords are repeated throughout the five songs on this album.

Clearly I’m getting ahead of myself. If you don’t know who Explosions in the Sky is, think back to the movie (not the television show) Friday Night Lights. If you haven’t seen it I have to wonder what rock you’ve been living under, but if you have seen it then you’ll recognize EITS from the soundtrack.

No, EITS doesn’t include lyrics in their music. Yes, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dark Place contains only five ‘songs,’ all of which are at least 8 minutes in length. As one would expect from these details, EITS has a very canny sense of the dramatic. But almost in spite of the drama, the pathos of their music is absolutely pitch perfect. Any song of theirs could be considered both happy and sad, and I believe this album exemplifies that quality perfectly. This is a definite must-have from a band that has just started to hit its stride.

“Your Hand In Mine,” “First Breath After Coma.”
myspace, last.fm
The Receiving End of Sirens’s The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi, Thrice’s The Alchemy Index, Vol. 2: Water

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2003 / 5 stars / reviews / switchfoot — No Comments
31
Aug 08

The Beautiful Letdown (2003) by Switchfoot

Switchfoot
The Beautiful Letdown
2003, Columbia
alt rock

Shortly before this album’s release, I and other Switchfoot fans received an email through the band’s mailing list stating that Jerome Fontamillas, a keyboardist who had toured with the band since 2000, was officially a member of the band. Considering that this was also their first album with Columbia Records and the first time Charlie Peacock would not be their producer, it went unsaid that this album would be different than the others.

Switchfoot had perfected its lyrical depth with Learning to Breathe, but only with Beautiful Letdown did their musical arrangement mature as well. The addition of Fontamillas smoothed their sound to an almost alternative pop. In some ways that alienated old fans, but the ‘outsider’ stance that Switchfoot has always had remained in their intense lyrics. In fact, I think the lighter sound just emphasized the lyrics that much more.

The lyrics in this album are not explicitly Christian in any way, but there are oblique nods to spiritual issues and even God throughout. Again, this was also a difficult change for old fans to swallow, but it’s obvious now that Switchfoot was more comfortable in subtlety than they ever were with forthrightness. Either way, I’m not too much of a snob to say that I love this album despite the changes, and more importantly, I loved how much publicity this deserving band received. They have a swagger now that they never had before.

“Twenty Four,” “On Fire,” “The Beautiful Letdown,” and “Adding to the Noise.”
myspace, learning2breathe.com
Switchfoot’s Learning to Breathe, Anberlin’s Never Take Friendship Personal

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